Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko has said the main difference between the side now and earlier on in the season has been confidence, which lately has come from some positive results for the side.

Rafa Benitez has presided over something of a revival which sees the Magpies one point clear of the relegation zone having picked up eight points from their past four Premier League games, with Newcastle just having two games remaining.

Sissoko has been made captain by the recently appointed manager for recent games, and feels that confidence is the main difference between the side now and earlier on in the season, and a different mentality.

He told the Chronicle: “When you are winning you just want the next game to be as soon as possible. We know we are still in a bad moment but we just want to play.

“When Steve McClaren was here the training sessions were also good. But there’s a different mentality here now and the system is different, as are the training sessions.

“Every manager has his own training. But yes we all train well and enjoy so that’s good. We just need to keep fighting until the end."

Talk of double sessions and hard work on the training ground seem to have paid off for Newcastle so far with wins over Swansea City and Crystal Palace, and commendable draws against both Manchester City and Liverpool.

With two games remaining against Aston Villa, and then Tottenham, Sissoko and the rest of the Newcastle team are aware that the job is far from done, especially with relegation rivals Sunderland and Norwich City having played a game less, and still within striking distance going into the final days of the season.

Ian Bolland

A journalism graduate of Liverpool John Moores University. During his time at university, Ian spent time on work experience at local newspapers in Liverpool, Bolton and Wigan, and prior to that he did work for The Observer's 'fans verdict'. Ian also has interests in news, current affairs and business but mostly sport, including football, rugby league, cricket, golf and Formula 1, amongst others.